Carr vs. The State.

1. Wearing Concealed
Weapons: "Upon a journey." Temporarily stopping.Whether a
traveler was "upon a journey" in the spirit of the law against wearing concealed
weapons, while stopping at a town on his way, is a question for the jury, upon
all the circumstances before them. His intent governs, and the question of fact
is, was he really prosecuting his journey, only stopping for a temporary
purpose; or had he stopped to stay awhile, mingling generally with the citizens,
either for business or pleasure.

2. Same: What necessary
to constitute the offense.To constitute the offense of wearing concealed
weapons, under sec. 1517, Gantt's Dig., the
implement must be carried about the person, to be always accessible for use in
fight, and so hidden from general view as to put others off their guard. If a
pistol, not loaded, or unfit for use, this rebuts the presumption that it was
carried as a weapon.

If a pistol be worn concealed, the jury may presume
that it was loaded and worn as a weapon. But this is a presumption of fact, and
not of law, and may be rebutted by proof.

Appeal from Lee
Circuit Court.

Hon. J. N. Cypert, Circuit Judge.

Henderson, Attorney General, for the State.

Eakin, J. Appellant, in
May, 1875, was indicted in the Lee circuit court, charging: That he "unlawfully
did wear a pistol, concealed as a weapon, when not upon a journey." At the
spring term, 1879, the case was submitted to the (p.449)court as a jury--the defendant fined, and an appeal
taken, with bill of exceptions setting forth the evidence.

It appears that appellant had been on a visit to Memphis; and, on his
way back to his father's, stopped a few hours in Marianna, in Lee county. Whilst
there, he was observed to be wearing a pistol, a portion of it being seen. He
was arrested, but discharged. Two pistols were found upon him, neither of which
was loaded; and one was without a tube. After his arrest, he deposited the
pistols with his baggage.

The court decided the case on the ground that defendant, whilst
stopping over at Marianna, could not be said to be on a journey, and should, to
avoid a breach of the law, have deposited his pistols with his baggage, and not
carried them on his person. This is correct, if the appellant was really wearing
them, or either of them, as a weapon. The exception in the statute is to enable
travelers to protect themselves on the highways, or in transit through populous
places--not to allow them the privilege of mixing with the people in ordinary
intercourse, about the streets, armed in a manner which, upon a sudden fit of
passion, might endanger the lives of others. Travelers do not need weapons,
whilst stopping in towns, any more than citizens do. They should lay them aside,
unless the delay be slight, and the journey soon resumed. The jury, or court
sitting as such, can best judge of all the circumstances, and determine whether
the spirit of the law has been violated. No rule with regard to this can be
formulated. The intent governs, and the question of fact is, was the defendant
really prosecuting his journey, only stopping for a temporary purpose; or had he
stopped to stay awhile, mingling generally with the citizens, either for
business or pleasure.(p.450)

The offense is alleged to have occurred in December, 1874, when the
Revised Statutes contained the only act upon this subject, in force. See Gantt's Digest, sec. 1517. It is made a misdemeanor to
"wear any pistol, etc., * * concealed as a weapon," unless upon a journey.
It will be perceived there are three essential elements in the offense. The
implement must be worn--that is, placed about the person, and carried around in
some way, to be at all times accessible. If it is merely, and in good faith,
being transported, to be repaired, or given to another, or for purposes of
trade, or any other object, save to be used in fight, it can not be said to be
worn. It must be concealed--that is, so hidden from general view as to put
others off their guard; and, lastly, it must be carried as a
weapon--that is, for the purpose of having it convenient for use in
fight.

In this case, the implements found on defendant were pistols, and
worn concealed. But they were not, either of them, loaded; and one was wholly
unfit for use, if it had been. These things, affirmatively shown, rebut the
presumption that the pistols were worn to be used as weapons. They could not be
so used. If the state, in a given case, should show that pistols were worn
concealed, the jury might well presume that they were loaded, and worn as
weapons. But the defendant might remove the presumption by proof. It would be
one of fact, and not of law.

The attention of his honor, the circuit judge, seems to have been
directed to the point of defense, based upon the journey, which he correctly
decided. For want of sufficient proof that the pistol was worn as a weapon, a
new trial should have been granted.